But I Smile Anyway…

Oh, my goodness, that week flew by for us! Did it, for you, too?

Think I’ll need a strong one, today!

• If we were having chai I wouldn’t need to start with school, as I haven’t been there. Sure, I did have a plan to pop in, on one of the days, but, to be honest, I needed the total switch off. If Ofsted are planning a visit, there will be enough time that school takes over my thoughts, so no, not this week, I’m afraid!
• If we were having chai, Instead, I would share this view with you, which is one I sat at pretty much every day this week. I was determined to use the time away from school to get words down so I could be closer to finishing draft one of book two. I set myself a target of around five thousand words for the week. Guess what? I hit over 10k! I am very proud of myself and yes. I know that there is probably a huge amount that will get edited out, or changed, but the story is hitting the climax, and I am in the zone! Do I really have to go back to school???

• If we were having chai I’d say that the weather has been rather inclement the last week, top, and that is putting it mildly. To be fair, we did have lovely days, too, like below, but we also had rain, cold and, oh, yeah, THREE storms! Not one, not two, but three! Storm Dudley visted on Wednesday. It was a little blowy, but not too bad. We woke ot the news that Storm Eunice was gonna be a doozy, with a RED alert issued for certain areas, including where we lived. It was certainly windy but I think we got off lightly, compared to some places. Yes, trees fell, scaffolding fell, fences, fell, but not in our garded, thankfully! Some were left with no power, or internet, but, aside from a little dodgy broadband, it was okay. We had a couple of plans that we had to cancel, but better safe than sorry, eh! And on Sunday, it was announced tha Storm Franklin was visiting for a couple of days! Yes, I am typing this up on Sunday night and the wind is howling out there, as well as rain beating the windows. I am waiting, anxiously for Hubby Dearest and Lil Man to get back from cricket training, too… And also, preparing for an early than early start, tomorrow as we need to leave extra time to get in to school, with no idea of what the roads will be like…

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I was a bit of a zombie, mid week as I was up at the crack of dawn, and had driven 50 miles before 9am, both days, as I was taking my mother in law to some medical appointments; pre op ones as she had her first knee replacement operation yesterday. There was a morning with blood tests, then the second day was the Covid test. I don’t know why they both had to be so early, or on different days, but, who am I to question. I just did my job! She’s still in hospital at the moment, but the surgery appears to have gone well, so far, thank goodness. IT’s painful, and we can’t go and visit her, but fingers crossed, she’ll be home in a coupel of days. Pops is recovering well, too, which is great to hear!
• If we were having chai I’d admit a huge secret to you. I have hit that annual time where I realise just how unhealthy and overweight I am, AGAIN! This time last year, I was distraught at my weight, and went on a mission to lose what I could. I was doing so well, then, when we moved house, the stress of all the issues meant I comfort ate, and I haven’t stopped! I think I may be stone over what I was last year, whcih is awful! However, I am not as distraught as I was. (Though, I could pass for 6 months pregnant if you saw me sideways, I’m not kidding! Lil Princess was in hysterics, looking at my silhouette!) I need to curb the snacking, and drink more water, definitely. Exercise seems a thing of the past at the moment, but when we get the summerhouse kitted out properly, maybe I’ll have more motivation! And I do try to be heallthy. This was one of my breakfasts… (But, you don’t want to know what I ended up eating throughout the rest of the day!)

• If we were having chai I’d say that the birthdays for the month have finally come to an end, as Lil Princess and my father in law has their special days on Sunday. I honestly can’t believe she’s 14! Cake is still not done, yet, though, as we are waiting for Mum in law to be home before we celebrate, especially since it was her husband’s 70th!

• If we were having chai I’d share something else rather special that happend yesterday… I got notification from the publisher that Marriage Unarranged has hit #4 in the Asian Fiction Hottest New Releases category! It went on preorder last week! How exciting!

• If we were having chai I’d end with my furry muse, Sonu Singh, as always. He’s been by my side a lot the past week, since everyone else thoroughly enjoys the break, and isn’t out of bed until midday! He has sat with me in the living room, on my bed, in my writing room, keeping me company! Bless him!

This week, as I mentioned earlier, we are back at school (Boo!) and I need to balance that, with trying to write daily, as well as making sure, along with my sister-in-law, that mum-in-law is okay, when she’s back from the hospital. We are tentatively hoping for a weekend break, too, if all goes to plan… fingers crossed!

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Phew! Most definitely a ‘Phew!’ moment, as we have finally reached half term!

So, drinks at the ready?

• If we were having chai I’d begin as always, with school. Yet another week that I can only describe as ‘interesting’ with out crying! No, I lie, it wasn’t as bad as all that, however we were down two members of the team for the first half which is never easy, with our one to one children. The student I was mentoring was also off, as she had tested positive, and it was her last week, so I only saw her on the Friday! I had courses to do, and I also has to give a presentation to the rest of the staff about what the EYFS is, and how our learning segues into the rest of the National Curriculum. I was nervous as anything, but got though it! On Friday, we were meant to be having a school based Music Day, with workshops, however, out of three, two cancelled due to covid and other illnesses! Still, our class had a great time, with music and movement instead of P.E. and a whole afternoon of exploring the different instruments we go out of the music cupboard! It was noisy, yes, but so much fun! I was definitely ready for when Friday came to a close, though!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I, on a whim, found and bought this Anti Burnout journal, which I am hoping to use properly over the next 12 weewks, to set myself up, for a calmer life… fingers crossed!

• If we were having chai I’d say that I was inundated by unexpected flowers, last week, too. Now, you guys know me well enough. If I can reach out and help someone, I will, and there were several occasions at work, this week, where colleagues needed extra support, from my head needing someone to relieve her gate duty twice, to one collleague who was having kittens about how to log into a semiar she had to watch, to another one who was hit buy a child, and needed support in several ways, and another colleague who was taking an after school club that went a bit mad, and she needed more support. As always, I reached out, because besides me wanting to help, anyway, as part of Management, we need to step up in all situations, and my help resulted in me coming in gtwo mornings to be greeted by flowers, and on one occasion a lovely thank you message. It’s my job to be there to support, and I never expect something in return for heloping, but these were such lovely gestures, they touched my heart.

• If we were having chai I’d report back that I did my online shopping again, and apart from one swap, and one not available otem, all was good, plus I was sent bonus lamb chops! Result!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that Pops had his second hernia operation on Friday, and though it was a littel more complex than the last one, he was back home that night, and now has another few months of taking things very easy. Wish him happy healing, Peeps!
• If we were having chai I’d mention that the birthdays continued as it was Hubby Dearest, and Mum in Law’s birthday on Tuesday, so there was more cake to be eaten! We still have come celebrating to do, but that will come!
• If we were having chai I’d say that cricket came back to haunt me on Sunday as Lil Man started his nets at the club he hopes to join, this season. They were held at that fantastic Hogwarts-esque school we visited for a tournament last July, but were late, so I am rather tired, as I type this up. It meant my writing was cut short, but I did write a few hand-written notes, so I don’t feel it was too redundant a time.

• If we were having chai I’d end with our gorgeous Feline baby, as always, who has been extra loving this week, and treated me to a Kitty massage, one morning, too!

This week, there may be no school, but that doesn’t mean anything in the life of Ritu! Obviously, there is Valentine’s Day on Monday, then Tuesday and Wednesday are filled with rather early appointments that I need to take the Mother in law too, as well as an orthodontics one for Lil Princess, and then there is an appointment at the beautician, too. We hope to have one more day booked in with friends, as well then on Saturday Mother in Law goes in for her first knee replacement surgery. And on Sunday it is Lil Princess’s birthday and also my Father in law’s 70th on the same day! Phew! And then, back to school! Let’s hope I get some words in!

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Yes, indeed, February is most definitely here and we are in the throes of birthday month in our family! But work keeps getting in the way!

So, drinks at the ready?

• If we were having chai I’d begin as always, with school. It’s been an interesting week, to say the least. We have had staff leaving (not in my team), staff interviews happening (one for my team!), children having meltdowns, children off with the dreading C virus, and that encompasses Chicken pox to add to Covid, and Cold, and many staff off, having tested positive (including a student in my class and one of my one to one TAs. Yes. That much fun. Is it any wonder that I an shattered at the end of each day? Still we plod along… trying our hardest to stay safe, and stay open for the children, because, whatever anyone says, remote larning is not the best thing for little ones. Roll on Friday and half term, is all I can say!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that the other day I managed to squeeze in a few words one of the week day evenings, and it ended up being a rather intimate scene… I was kind of nervous, but got there in the end, I think…

• If we were having chai I’d say that for the first time in months, I am seeing a little daylight as we leave in the mornings, and in two evenings it was still light when we got home! That was a good feeling! I do love to appreciate the changing colours of the sky in the later hours.

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that the weekend was a time to experiment. I had my first go at online grocery shopping! Now, I have been put off doing this for a long time, as I am terrifed, (and probably a bit of a control freak), of ordering and getting the wrong things sent to me! I remember my sis in law using the system a good few years back, and ordering ketchup, and being seng mayo as the substitute! However, I am a converted woman! I ticked the no subs boxes on most of the items, and as I wasn’t wandering through the aisles, I didn’t pick up excess items, which was definitely easier on the wallet! There ended up being 5 items unavailable, and none of them were urgent, so, win win, I think!
• If we were having chai I’d mention that as I was feeling so tired, coupled with a very erratic night of sleep on Saturday. words didn’t flow as well as the weekend before, but along with organising my Scrivener cork board, I did around 1,000 words this week, so not all bad!

• If we were having chai I’d end with our gorgeous Feline baby, as always, who is posing as DJ Sonu Singh, here! God, I do love him!

This week, along with the pressures of even less staff in, during the week, we have Hubby Dearest’s and my mother-in-law’s birthday, too, so fingers crossed, I continue to stay negative, and that we can have our little celebrations with the family, with no worries, as well as getting tp the end of the week, so I can enjoy a (rather busy) week off!

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It’s the last day of January! Can you believe that? Felt like a month that never wanted to end!

Anyway, are you ready for your catch up with a drink?

• If we were having chai I’d begin with school which was an interesting place to be, this week. Despite the government telling us that we’re finally seeing the back of the Covid monster, right now, primary schools are seeing the worst ever case numbers in their pupils, as well as staff. I didn’t have more than 21 children all week, which is a rarity, in itself. At lesat four of the absences were Covid related. And in the other Reception class there were at least 3, too. There were staffing ups and downs, too, which feels like the norm, right now. All I can say is that I ended every day exhausted.
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that I was treated to a little gift from one of my colleagues, too, which brightened my day on Thursday.

• If we were having chai I’d say that despite feeling under the weather, I still managed to keep up with the chores list, and I have to say that it is working well for me! (Still not much help from the kids, but at least things are manageable.)
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that my poor Finndian family have all succumbed to the C-19 virus and we can only hope and pray that they come out of it, unscathed. Prayers for them, please!
• If we were having chai I’d mention that I was true to my word of writing 2k at the weekend. I actually managed over 2500 words! Yay, me! The story is really coming along now, and all that planning last week really helps!

• If we were having chai I’d end with a pic of Sonu Singh, who likes to find the oddest places to chill out! This time it was in Lil Man’s suit carrier!

This week, I don’t really know what is going on. It might be a long week, if absences continue, staffing-wise, but it might just be a little easier, too, if the numbers fall a little. I come to the end of my #JusJoJan challenge today, too, so every day, I can try and devote half an hour to the WIP, which should get the word count up! We also hit February, so the in-law birthdays also start, with my brother in law’s on Thursday.

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Another week went by. Can you believe January is almost over? But thank goodness payday is around the corner!

Are you ready for your catch up with a drink?

• If we were having chai I’d begin with school as always. It was a different week, as my team teacher for the beginning of the week was in isolation. My other team teacher did a full week for a change, and that helped, so the children got continuity. And to be honest, we wouldn’t have found a decent supply teacher, anyway. Not sure if there are Covid cases, but I was left with 21 children on Friday. Heaven knows what Monday will bring. In other business, I have been busy ordering equipment for the outdoor area, to get things more interesting for the children. There is also a presentation I will need to be doing for the rest of the school staff, but due to shortages of teachers, I was unable to get that done, so another task for this week.
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that the housework timetable has worked for me so far. I tick off the chores that are done daily, and if there is time, I do others early, which means that the weekend is an easier time for me to spend being creative, and writing words! Still hasn’t been that successful with getting the kids on board. Lil Man thinks if he washes dishes badly, I’ll stop asking him. Instead, I made him rewaash, and stood behind him, with my arms around him, guiding him with the sponge! I think I embarrassed him enough to make sure he does better int he future, because I am not afraid to do that to him in front of others, and if he doesn’t want embarrassment, he needs to pull out his finger, lol!
• If we were having chai I’d say that on Thursday, we celebrated Sonu Singh’s 8th Birthday! He got some special treats, which I have locked way, so he can’t reach them unaided, and a new toy!

• If we were having chai I’d tell you that on Saturday, Lil Princess and I ventured out to Bluewater, so she could meet some friends. I had hoped for a quiet day, so I could write, but, instead, I spent it having a leisurely lunch, with my Kindle for company, as well as a long chat with my brother. And she needed it. She has been struggling since the pandemic, and we are trying to encourage any time she wants to socialise, for her own health’s sake.

• If we were having chai I’d mention that Saturday was also a day for me to try and write. I’ll admit that maybe no words came out, on that particular session, however, I did get some great selfies! 😂😂

• If we were having chai I’d then reassure you that I did do WIP related work on Sunday, after a leisurely read of my book with brunch. I have made some sort of skeleton plans so I can follow a direction with my story, because, otherwise, I will waffle on and on about all sorts of unneccessary things! Then I added around 800 new words to it, too!

This week, I am sure, will go by in a blur, as they all seem to be doing, recently. We definitely have one school staff member who tested positive, this weekend, so there is a chance more could follow. Let’s seen what the numbers in class are like, Monday morning. I will attempt to keep up with my household jobs plan and daily blogging/writing, and other than the fun of an eyebrow appointment, there is nothing more to get excited about!

And while you’re here, did you sign up for my mailing list? I am in the middle of writing an exclusive Chickpea Curry Lit story for my subscribers, and there will be news, tips and even recipes! You know you want to join… go on! Click the pic below to sign up!